High school students interested in law enforcement will have the opportunity this summer to see what law enforcement training and careers are like through the Cadet Law Enforcement Academy program. Cadet Law will be held from June 2-June 7, 2019. Application deadline March 31, 2019.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is preparing for the impending winter storm that will be affecting the Kansas City Metropolitan area. Due to the predicted snowfall amounts, the Kansas Highway Patrol will be towing any abandoned vehicles from the shoulders of the interstates and highways beginning 12pm tomorrow, March 2, 2019.

The Kansas Highway Patrol, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee Police Department are planning to conduct a Sobriety checkpoint the weekend of March 16th, 2018 on US 400 west of Pittsburg.

A Sobriety checkpoint intended to remove impaired drivers will be set up on US-400, in Cherokee/Crawford Counties. “The purpose of these checkpoints,” according to the Highway Patrol spokesperson, “is to decrease traffic crashes through awareness and enforcement.”

These checkpoints are aimed at reducing accident rates by identifying impaired drivers. The goal of this checkpoint is to encourage compliance with the alcohol related statutes of this state, by removing the drivers that are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Annually about 10,000 persons are killed in alcohol related traffic crashes, averaging one alcohol related fatality every 50 minutes. These deaths constitute approximately 29% of the total traffic fatalities.

Traffic related deaths are the greatest single cause of death for children ages 0 to 19 years of age.

The proportion of fatal crashes that are alcohol related is about three times greater at night than during the day.

We appreciate the patience and cooperation from all citizens involved with the checkpoint. For more information contact Lieutenant Michael O’Hara or Technical Trooper Rick Wingate at 620-431-2100.